Texas Bandit will exit box one for the first time in his brief career at Wentworth Park on Thursday night but his win in last month's $25,000 Million Dollar Chase Maiden final from box two indicates he will make full use of the rails alley.
Texas Bandit has drawn the fence in the Ladbrokes Quick Multi 520m fifth grade and goes into the race boasting a personal best Wentworth Park time of 29.69, quicker than any of his six rivals.
Kangaroo Jack's fastest 520m Wenty figures of 29.56 are well inside those of his rivals in Thursday's We Stand With Tasmania Masters Stakes and although the dog has not raced for over a month he is fit enough to win.
Trainer Syd Swain said: "He has had a couple of 401m trials at Richmond and gone well.
"If he gets out cleanly and has a 'go' this looks a suitable race for Kangaroo Jack, but like a lot of older dogs he has got a bit shifty with age.
"Being in an early race doesn't make any difference to him, he is very relaxed and goes to sleep once he is kennelled.''
Kangaroo Jack
Trainer Michael Hardman believes Wentworth Park newcomer Pax Bostonia, a former Queenslander, is capable of seeing out the 720m of Thursday's Ladbrokes Mates Mode Pots Stakes but cautions: "You never know for sure until they go over that distance.
"I gave him a 650m slip at Wentworth Park and the time he recorded in that gallop suggests he will run the distance, but as it is his first go over that trip the last 30m might find him out.
"Glenn Starr's dog Derry has clocked 42.02 over the 720m so he can run the trip right out and definitely looks the dog to beat on Thursday.''
Recluse, an impressive winner over 520m and 401m in three of her past four starts at Richmond, makes her Wentworth Park debut in Thursday's Group 1 Heats December 13 Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.
She posted fastest 401m time of the night on October 31 and November 14 and trainer Anthony Dawson expects her to run a bold race, but is concerned she may fade in the straight.
"Recluse knows her way around Wentworth Park because she had a few trials there when she was being educated and has also gone well in a box-to-box hit-out,'' Dawson said.
"I'm happy enough with box one although I do think Recluse is more comfortable from an outside draw because she likes to cut across the field in the run to the first turn.
"She won over 520m at Richmond in good time in May but then came in season so Thursday's race will be the first time she has tackled this distance since then.''
I was drawn to Dawson's greyhound's name as I once owned an aptly named greyhound called The Recluse, given his moniker because he was by Silent Retreat from Forest Bud.
Dawson explained: "My bitch Recluse got her name because of her temperament when she was a puppy.
"One minute she would be letting me pat and play with her, then suddenly she would growl at me and take herself off away from her siblings and I to be on her own, just like a recluse or a hermit.''
